Motor Racing
British GT Championship Final Weekend Preview: Brands Hatch
The 2026 British GT Championship reaches its climax this weekend as Brands Hatch hosts the eighth and final round of the season, and William Hill News are on hand with everything you need to know before lights out.
With Barwell Lamborghini’s pair of Rob Collard and Rob Cook leading the table with a 15.5 second lead over Optimum McLaren but with a 20 second Compensation Time burden over their heads, the final round of the British GT Championship is set to be a nail-biter.
Race Details:
- Date: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September
- Venue: brands hatch Grand Prix Circuit, Kent
- Round: Final Round (8)
Predictions
On pure form, Collard and Cook look the pick to get the job done. Barwell’s #63 Lamborghini has been the class of the field since Donington, and the pairing only need to finish inside the top four to be champions regardless of what unfolds around them. But that 20-second Compensation Time burden is no small thing on a track as tight as Brands Hatch, and history at this exact venue suggests a comfortable cushion can evaporate fast.
The more interesting shout is Tillbrook and Barnicoat in the Optimum McLaren. Barnicoat has arguably been the standout GT3 driver of the season, and a strong result from lights-out could put real pressure on the Barwell duo through the pitstop window.
Don’t rule out a fairytale finish for Gunn and Howard either: a Beechdean win combined with a Barwell stumble would hand Andrew Howard the perfect send-off to a 20-year British GT career, and it is exactly the kind of script Brands Hatch has a habit of writing.
Expect this one to go down to the final pitstop cycle.
Title Picture
Five crews remain in contention for the GT3 title and head into Sunday’s showdown with just 27.5 points separating the lot. Rob Collard and Hugo Cook of Barwell Lamborghini go in with a 15.5-point lead after their commanding Donington win but must serve 20 seconds of mandatory pitstop compensation time on Sunday – leaving the door open for a genuine five-way battle for the top spots.
What’s at stake?
Barwell Lamborghini stand on the bring of an eighth teams’ title, and Collard is one title away from equalling the all-time GT3 record. Two years ago, at this same venue, Collard arrived with a similar points cushion and Compensation Time burden, only to see his lead cut to five points by the flag – a reminder of just how unsettled the rankings can still be at this stage.
The Circuit
Brands Hatch’s Grand Prix layout – Paddock Hill Bend into Druids, down through Graham Hill Bend to Clearways – is known for shuffling the order under pressure, with mandatory driver changes and pitstops adding another layer on complexity to an already tight fight.
Whichever crew comes out on top, this is shaping up to one of the closest British GT finales in years.
